New 36-hole events for Tartan Tour

THIS year’s Tartan Tour schedule will include five 36-hole events that will give non-PGA professionals and leading Scottish amateurs the chance to lock horns with the country’s leading home-based professionals.

The first of the events, from 30 April to 1 May, will take place at Macdonald Spey Valley in Aviemore, where Scott Henry used a victory last year as a springboard to securing his European Tour card this season.

Cardrona near Peebles (28-29 May), Duddingston (2-3 July) and Brora/Tain (24-25 September) have also been confirmed as venues with one more to be added in July.

“These tournaments proved to be very popular last year, with over 30 non-PGA members competing alongside professionals over the course of the season,” said PGA in Scotland secretary Michael MacDougall.

Alan Tait, a golf professional and media pundit, came up with the idea for the events in 2011 and they have continued to prove useful since coming under the PGA in Scotland umbrella.

“Last year, three of the four players who competed in a play-off at Spey Valley went on to gain their full European Tour card at the end of the season,” added MacDougall.